In 2007, Square Enix and Jupiter collaborated to deliver a Nintendo DS exclusive action-RPG known as The World Ends With You. Across both Japanese and Western markets, the game received a cult following, which has justified it ported across to the iOS, Android and Nintendo Switch platforms as recently as 2018 (and yes, I bought every version of them). There are many reasons why it garnered this attention, from its intriguing survival-game narrative and memorable characters, to its awesome design aesthetic and soundtrack to a battle system which was easy to access but challenging to master.
For the last fourteen years many fans have been wondering… will there be a sequel? Today Square Enix confirmed that one is finally in the works! NEO: The World Ends With You is currently being developed for both PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch platforms, with an estimated released date of mid-2021 in North American and PAL regions.
In this follow-up game, players will not take on the role of Neku Sakuraba, and instead fill the shoes of Rindo. Rindo is one of a new group of people who find themselves trapped in the life-or-death Reapers’ Game, where they must complete daily tasks within a time limit or be deleted from existence. Players will explore Shibuya once more, uncovering the mysteries behind the sinister game they have been forced to take part.
Technology has changed in the last decade-and-a-half, so it should come as little surprise that NEO: The World Ends With You now features a fully explorable 3D world bustling with 3D characters. Despite this, the re-creation of modern Shibuya features the same comic-inspired style from the original, and retains much of the original’s design language. Players can explore and enjoy the sights, sounds, and culture of this bustling city, fight monsters alongside their ally companions in fast-paced action battles, and complete missions as they seek to change the fate they’ve been handed.
It is likely that NEO: The World Ends With You links to its predecessor via the ‘A New Day’ chapter exclusive to the Nintendo Switch port. This would explain why Sho Minamimoto, the maths-loving reaper from The World Ends With You, makes an appearance – this time as a party member.
Expect to hear more about NEO: The World Ends With You in the weeks and months leading to launch.
